Wire-stretcher for packing-boxes



APPLICATION* FILED SEPT. 24, 1919.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NETH, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

WIRE-STRETCHER .FOR PACKING-BOXES.

Application led September 24, 1919. Serial No.

To all 'whom z't may concern.' e it known that I, GEORGE NETH, a citizen of Germany, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of specification.

y invention relates to devices for stretching wires around packing-cases, boxes, and the like, such wires being used quite commonly to secure the lid or cover of the box or case more reliably than this can be done with nails alone. The object of my invention is to provide a very simple and compact device 0I tool of the above-indicated charj acter, which will be readily manipulated and `on a box or case;

which has its moving parts well protected so as to guard against injury to the device and to the workman as well.

- A satisfactory and preferred embodiment of my invention will now be described in detail in connection withthe accompanying drawings, and the novel features will then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the said drawings Figure l is a side ele` vation of the improved wire-stretcher in use Fig.2 is a corresponding longitudinal central section; Fig. 3 is a corresponding plan view; Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical cross sections on lines H of Fig. l and 5`5 of Fig. 3 respectively; and Fig. 6 is a cross section on' line 6`6 of Fig. 3, with parts omitted.

he improved wire-stretcher comprises a bar A provided at its forward or fulcrum end with a narrow tongue A at the sides of which are parallel vertical anges A extending upwardly and forming' between them a longitudinal channel for the reception of one end of the wire B. The bottom Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 8, 1921.

astop for said loop, and the opposite, substantially straight end of the wire bein passed through said loop. At its forwar end, at each side of the tongue A, the bar A is provided with two longitudinal projections A* of greater length than said tongue, and adapted by their engagement with the case C or the like, to form a fulcrum about which the bar 1s swung, said projections at the same time serving to hold the tongue A away from the box lying in the channel of the tongue not be forced into and thus injured.

his slide carries a fixed jaw E, preferably toothed, and a movable jaw E pivoted at F and provided with a clamping surface or cam surface adjacent to the fixed jaw, said cam surface being preferably toothed. The straight end of the wire B may be laid between the two jaws from above, or threaded between them endwise, if preferred, and by swinging the handle E of the movable jaw the latter will be made to clamp this end o t e wire. The cam surface is so arranged ment of the slide D,

to be described presently.

With the slide D is connected rigidly a rod as by screwing the threaded end of said rod tightly into the slide. This rod extends longitudinally of the bar A, that is to say, in the direction of to move lengthwise of said bar. The slide G is made with an inter nally-threaded sleeve G the axis of which is longitudinal with respect to the bar A. This sleeve G is in engagement with the external screw-thread H of a rotary rod H journaled in or upon brackets J which are secured to the bar A rigidly. On the bar portion carrying the brackets J is also sel the bar A resting against the case C fear that thev wire vrod G, and clamp D about the fulcrum -of the wire passes cured another bracket K to which is secured rigidly a short transverse axle L the axis of which intersects that of the sleeve Gr and of the rod H. On this axle L is mounted to turn a bevel wheel M which, on its side nearest the tongue A', is in mesh with a bevel wheel or pinion N secured rigidly to the rod H adjacent to the forward bracket J, but on the rear side thereof. It will be understood that the bevel wheel M assists in preventing rearward movement of the rod H, the brackets J holding said rod against longitudinal movement in either direction. Preferably,

as shown, the wheel M is considerably larger than the pinion N. The wheel M carries two studs or screws Ml projecting out- Wardly, in a direction parallel to the axis of said wheel, and preferably at equal distances from said axis. To turn the -Wheels M, N and rod H, I provide the detachable crank having two eccentric openings adapted to re ceive the studs M.

The rear end of the bar A is provided with a steadying portion P which may be in the nature of a hand grip, or any other suitable device for holding the bar relatively steady with one hand while the workman turns the handle of the crank O with the other hand.

The manner'of using this improved wirestretcher will be understood readily. The loop B having been hung on the flanges A of the tongue A', and the'body of the wire having been passed around the bale, box, case, or Vother article, the substantially straight free end of such wire is'passed through the loop B and between the jaws E, E', the projections A* at the forward end of at or near a corner thereof. The clamp handle E is swung to grip this end of the wire, and by turning the crank O the workman will rotate the rod H and thus pull the slide Gr with the straight wire end toward the rear of the tool, that is to say, toward the hand grip P, thus stretching the wire. W' hen the proper amount of stretch has been secured, the tool is swung formed by the case C engaging the projections Ai, thereby forming a sharp bend or kink where the clamped end kthrough the loop B', whereupon the clamp handle E can be swung to release the wire without having to tension may become relaxed materially, since the bent end of the wire will have a good hold on the loop B.

The tool may then beremoved from the box or case, the ipreviously clamped end of the wire being secured firmly in the usual way, by bringing said end back against the body of the wire and twisting it around said body with pliers. Y

In order to protect the thread of the rod H, I provide a cover plate @connecting the Gr, to bring the extension Gr* into two brackets J and extending above the said rod and the sleeve Gr, partly with a view of protecting these parts against dust and other foreign matter which mightclog them, and partly as a safeguard against the operators getting his lingers caughtin the moving parts. Said cover Q, is also in guiding engagement withY an upward extension G* rigid with the slide G. This extension has a hole (Figs. 1 and 2) sponding to that of the hole through which passes the bolt for connecting the rod Gr with the slide Gr. Thus, if the lower portion of the slide should break, such slide can be turned around 180, after loosening the rod uiding engagement with the bar A, the rod being then secured to the extension Gf. Normally, with the slide G engaging the bar A, and the extension Gif engaging the cover Q, the

slide is guided very firmly. V

The ianges A raise the looped end of the wire B olf the box or case C and as the tool is swung on its end, the wire remains as tight as it has been made'by the turning of the handle O, that is tov say, there is no slackenduring this swingturning the handle Oto tighten the wire beyond the desired point, to allow for expected slackening or sagging.; such overstretchincr ofthe wire of course' exposes it to ystrain and breakage. f

' Various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: Y l. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar, a wire-holding slide movable'along one portion of said bar, a threaded member mounted to turn adjacent toanother portion Aof the bar but held against longitudinal movement, a second slide guided along such other portion of the bar and having threaded engagement with said rotary member, a longitudinal rod connecting. the two slides, and

4means for operating said rotary member.

2. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar provided at one end with a wire-guiding projection and with two projections of greater length than the wire-guiding projection, located at each side thereof, a wire-holder movable lengthwise of said bar, andmeans for operating. said holder.

3. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar provided with a relatively short wire-guiding projection at one end and with a relatively long projection at the side of said firstnamed projection, a wire-'holder movable lengthwise of said bar, and means for operating saidholder.

4. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar provided at one end with a projection having a .longitudinal wire-guiding channelthe bottom of which is above the top surface of said tending over said member and slide and in 10 bar, a wire-holder movable lengthwise of guiding engagement with said slide, a wiresaid bar, and means for operating said holder likewise movable along said bar and holder. connected with said slide, and means for op- 5. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar, @rating the slide and the wire holder.

brackets secured thereto, a rotary member In testlmony whereof I have signed this 15 journaled in said brackets, a slide having specification. threaded engagement with said member and movable lengthwise of said bar, a cover eX- GEORGE N ETH. 

